Lawmakers slam coal mine official over safety

[cal04]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20100520/us-mine-explosion-congress/

The embattled head of Massey Energy Co. went on the defensive Thursday as he faced angry lawmakers who claim the company's indifference toward safety led to the nation's worst mining disaster in 40 years.

Massey chief executive Don Blankenship told senators he is committed to workplace safety and insisted his company worked hard to reduce the spate of serious violations at the Upper Big Branch mine in the months before an explosion killed 29 workers.

"Massey does not place profits over safety," Blankenship said in his first appearance before Congress since the April 5 explosion at the West Virginia mine. "We never have and we never will."

Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., took strong exception, saying the mine had "an alarming record" of serious infractions.

"I cannot fathom how an American business could practice such disgraceful health and safety policies while at the same time boasting about its commitment to the safety of workers," said the 92-year-old senator, who spoke haltingly but forcefully from his wheelchair.